Evacuations ordered near Ark. meat plant

state officials want to talk about rebuilding

March 28, 2008

BOONEVILLE, Ark. (AP) - Authorities fighting a blaze that destroyed a meat plant ordered new evacuations Monday over fears that new fires could erupt amid the smoldering debris. An explosion Sunday destroyed much of the Cargill Meat Solutions plant, which employs about 800 people and produced about 2 million pounds of frozen ground beef patties and steaks a week. No one was hurt, but residents of this west Arkansas town of 4,000 were worried about losing a major economic lifeline. Emergency crews Monday cleared homes and businesses within a half-mile of the plant over worries that an anhydrous ammonia tank might catch fire, the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management said. On Sunday a smaller evacuation affected about 180 people. A spokeswoman for the emergency response effort, Tanya Roberts, said Sunday that gauges showed that much of the ammonia tanks were empty. A new alarm emerged late Monday morning about another tank, however, forcing the expanded evacuation, she said. Logan County Emergency Manager Don Fairbanks said Sunday that workers welding some fans noticed a fire after putting away their equipment. As the fire grew, a series of small explosions rocked the 150,000-square-foot plant, he said. Plant workers were told to stay away Monday and a personnel manager said a decision on rebuilding would come later. Joe Holmes, a spokesman for the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, said state officials were discussing the economic impact with local officials and hoped to talk to Minneapolis-based Cargill about its plans for the plant.